Senator Diane Savino talks to members of the media during a rally held Monday, Jan. 13, 2014, by members of New Yorkers for Compassionate Care who were calling for a medical marijuana bill to be passed this session. The group held their rally just outside the Senate lobby inside the Capitol in Albany, NY. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union) less

Senator Diane Savino talks to members of the media during a rally held Monday, Jan. 13, 2014, by members of New Yorkers for Compassionate Care who were calling for a medical marijuana bill to be passed this ... more

Photo: Paul Buckowski

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People hold signs during a rally Monday, Jan. 13, 2014, held by members of New Yorkers for Compassionate Care who were calling for a medical marijuana bill to be passed this session. The group held their rally just outside the Senate lobby inside the Capitol in Albany, NY. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union) less

People hold signs during a rally Monday, Jan. 13, 2014, held by members of New Yorkers for Compassionate Care who were calling for a medical marijuana bill to be passed this session. The group held their rally ... more

Photo: Paul Buckowski

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Nancy Rivera of Troy, a cancer survivor, addresses those gathered during a rally Monday, Jan. 13, 2014, held by members of New Yorkers for Compassionate Care who were calling for a medical marijuana bill to be passed this session. The group held their rally just outside the Senate lobby inside the Capitol in Albany, NY. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union) less

Nancy Rivera of Troy, a cancer survivor, addresses those gathered during a rally Monday, Jan. 13, 2014, held by members of New Yorkers for Compassionate Care who were calling for a medical marijuana bill to be ... more

Photo: Paul Buckowski

Image 4 of 7

People hold signs during a rally Monday, Jan. 13, 2014, held by members of New Yorkers for Compassionate Care who were calling for a medical marijuana bill to be passed this session. The group held their rally just outside the Senate lobby inside the Capitol in Albany, NY. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union) less

People hold signs during a rally Monday, Jan. 13, 2014, held by members of New Yorkers for Compassionate Care who were calling for a medical marijuana bill to be passed this session. The group held their rally ... more

Photo: Paul Buckowski

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Kate Hintz speaks to members of the media about her daughters medical condition Monday, Jan. 13, 2014, during a rally held by members of New Yorkers for Compassionate Care who were calling for a medical marijuana bill to be passed this session. The group held their rally just outside the Senate lobby inside the Capitol in Albany, NY. Hintz's daugher, Morgan, seen in the foreground, has dravet syndrome, a severe seizure disorder. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union) less

Kate Hintz speaks to members of the media about her daughters medical condition Monday, Jan. 13, 2014, during a rally held by members of New Yorkers for Compassionate Care who were calling for a medical ... more

Photo: Paul Buckowski

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Medical marijuana bill not ready for key vote

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Albany

State Sen. Diane Savino, a longtime supporter of a bill that would make medical marijuana available to a broad spectrum of ailing New Yorkers, said Monday the legislation "isn't ready" for a vote in the Senate.

Savino, a Democrat, made the comments at a Capitol news conference at which those living with debilitating illness and their loved ones expressed frustration that medicinal forms of marijuana remain unavailable in New York state. Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently announced his intention to use 30-year old legislation to launch what amounts to a pilot program at a limited number of hospitals — a change that advocates call insufficient.

Kate Hintz of North Salem described her 3-year-old daughter's struggles with an incurable form of epilepsy that makes her subject to frequent seizures. The child is on a feeding tube and cannot communicate, and takes 12 medications and supplements daily.

"At this point we will never know what has affected her more: her uncontrolled seizures or the mountains of barbiturates, benzodiazepines, steroids, antidepressants and sedatives she has taken in her short life," Hintz said.

She insisted that medical marijuana was in no way "a street drug."

"I am asking for selectively grown, medical-grade strains of marijuana dispensed in a liquid form — it would come in a bottle, just like her other medications, and have absolutely no street value," Hintz said.

The bill has passed the Democrat-dominated state Assembly several times. The Senate is currently controlled by Republicans and the four-member Independent Democratic Conference — including Savino — that allows both conference leaders to control what bills make it to the floor.

The Staten Island lawmaker was asked if the bill would be blockaded by the GOP.

"We're not playing politics with this issue," Savino said. "There are patients whose lives are being affected by this issue. We're going to build support for this the way we build support for everything else. There is sufficient support in both conferences."

Asked if that meant the bill was headed to the floor, she grew annoyed. "I know you all want to play politics — I get that. I know you all want to have your scorecard (for) what's progressive and what's not," she said. "... You can't force a bill to the floor until the bill is ready. The bill will be ready when I let you know it's ready."

IDC spokesman Eric Soufer said the senator was referring to ongoing negotiations with the governor's office to find a form that would not only pass the chamber but also attract the largest number of votes in both houses.

A Cuomo spokesman, however, said the administration has had no involvement with the bill beyond saying it would consider the legislation if it is passed by both houses.